Day Eighty Six on the Somme

Sunday 24th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion tells me they are at Arrowhead Copse this evening, south-west of Guillemont and not far from their triumph at Falfemont Farm. They will go into action again tomorrow, using the assembly trenches east of Ginchy which they helped to dig on 20th. These are at the small squares immediately south-west of “9” on the map above.

Their task is to help take the village of Morval to the east-north-east. They will seize the second objective after 1st Norfolks have taken the first. 1st Cheshires will then drive on to the third objective, the village itself. The second objective is the sunken road immediately west of Morval shown on the map above.

56th (London) Division failed in an attempt to link up with the French today near Combles. 6th Division repulsed a German attack and an attack by 23rd Division near le Sars was thwarted. 

Source: X550/2/5

Day Eighty Two on the Somme

Wednesday 20th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

Even when there are lulls in the fighting the everyday tasks of siege warfare, for that is what this war seems to have become, carry on. As correspondents we have had to become versed in looking at trench maps, an example of which is above. These divide the countryside into a grid of ever smaller squares and show the enemy trenches on them. Our own trenches do not tend to be shown as officers take them into the front line in order to navigate successfully and, if the bearer is captured the maps might reveal information the enemy does not have.

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion tells me that today they have been in support trenches east of the captured village of Ginchy. These positions are in the squares T14 b and c (the small squares north-east and south-west of the number “14” on the map above).

A working party of sixty men under an officer has been digging assembly trenches for the next attack. These are at the small squares immediately north-east and south-east of “9” on the map above, north of the quarry.

Source: X550/2/5